Meteor Garden Tour in Taiwan!!!

If you are one of the #TitasOfAsianovelas like me I am sure you will remember all the nostalgic feels Meteor Garden 2001 brought to us.

Meteor Garden was aired in the Philippines way back in 2003. I am still 9-10 years old back then. I am pretty sure this brought out my fangirl side. Meteor Garden started it all for me. I can still remember those times when internet was not accessible to all and you need to fangirl in a traditional way. What I mean is waiting for an episode preview via newspapers, rent VCDs at Video City (that’s per episode pa bes ha), wait for Myx daily top 10 to hear their songs, buy songhits with lyrics and collect so many F4 memorabilias (you can see their faces in almost anything bes hahaha). Very very nostalgic!

So when I heard that Taiwan is now Visa Free for Filipinos (until July 2019). I immediately booked a flight to fulfill my childhood dream.. to visit Meteor Garden related places. So here I am sharing my trip with you mga bes!

Here is a complete guide on how to go to their filming locations + some side trips you can also visit to maximize your stay.

First and foremost, the basics:

☑️ You need to book a plane ticket. I booked my roundtrip ticket via Air Asia (almost ~Php6,500 with baggage allowance).

☑️ Book an accommodation. Make sure that your place is near the subway station. Get the address and contact number of your hotel. You’ll need this information in the immigration.

☑️ Check with your hotel if their voltage is 220v. 110v kasi yung power in Taiwan so better make sure.

☑️ Their currency is Taiwan Dollars (TWD) / New Taiwan Dollars (NTD). When I convert it to PHP, I just multiply NTD x 2 = PHP.

☑️ Prepare payment for Travel Tax (Php1,620).

You can always buy tickets in Taiwan but it’s wise and money saving to book your entrance tickets and passes ahead of time. I always buy my must-haves from Klook.

Internet

1. If you are a traveling by group, you can choose to rent a pocket wifi. You can connect up to 5 devices. You can book it here.

1. It is easy go around Taipei because the MRT is not that complicated. They have 5 subway lines. MRT fare is ~20-25NTD.

2. You can choose to buy a single journey ticket or get an Easy Card. As for me, I recommend you get an Easy Card because it’s discounted and you don’t have to buy ticket every time you will take the MRT. You can also use this when taking their bus and buying on convenience stores. I bought an Easy card together with the Roundtrip Airport MRT tickets from Klook (bundle na sya, pero wala pang load yung Easycard when they give it to you). You can get yours here.

3. If you don’t want to get an easy card and load every time and if you are staying for only 2 days. Klook has an Unlimited Fun Transport Pass for 2 consecutive days. You just need to tap your card whenever you will take the MRT or bus. You can get it here.

Tourist Spots in Taipei

1. Taipei 101

This is a must go when you visit Taiwan. It’s where the fastest elevator in Guinness World Record can be found. It’s a mall so you can shop and eat inside. The observatory costs around ~900Php if you will book on site. I booked via Klook so it’s discounted, make sure to be there on your chosen time. Book your Taipei 101 observatory ticket here.

Directions

Taipei 101 Station

2. Shilin Night Market

Street foods are popular in Taiwan that’s why it’s a must visit. You can buy food, clothes, and souvenirs here.

Directions

Jiantan Station, Exit 1

3. Ximending Youth Shopping District

Ximending is a popular place for shopping especially for teens. There are many high end brands here. It’s also called Harajuku of Taipei.

But as a kpop and kdrama fan I am more excited to visit Jjiajjia CD Store. It’s a popular store because they sell kpop/kdrama albums.

Directions

Ximen Station, Exit 6

You can find the Jjiajjia Cd store in Ximending, just go to Ximen Station, Exit 3. Type the name of the store in Google maps. It’s an underground store.

4. National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

The National Chiang Kai Shek Memoral Hall is a national monument and tourist attraction in memory of the former president of China.

Directions

Chiang Kai Shel Memorial Hall Station

Meteor Garden Tour

And of course etooo na beees! This is the highlight of my trip! To relive my meteor garden feeels myyygaaaad!

1. PS Bubu

📍PS Bubu (Opens 12pm)🚇 Shipai Station, Exit 1 ➡️ Cross the street ➡️ Take Bus 224 ➡️ Alight at Tianmu Bus Stop ➡️ Walk for 1-2min and you'll see the restaurant. 📺 This is where Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai went on their date. pic.twitter.com/MjwqOtKniY

Walk for at least 1-2 min and you’re there. You can see the PS Bubu restaurant before the bus stop.

2. National Chung Cheng University (also known as Ying De University)

📍Chung Cheng University (Ying De University) located outside Taipei which is in Chiayi City 🚝 Chiayi Station via High Speed Rail (1hr / ~3000Php RT) ➡️ Take Bus #106 or Take a taxi (1hr ride / 1200NTD/~2400Php RT)➡️ Book HSR here: https://t.co/FZkxZns4Qspic.twitter.com/AmAaTz5WX5

It is located outside Taipei. It is in Chiayi City which is a 5-hour ride via bus from Taipei. But if you don’t want the long ride you can choose to take a 1-hour ride via High Speed Rail though it is expensive.

If you are already in Chiayi City. You need to take either Bus 106 or Taxi to National Chung Cheng University (NCCU).

It is almost an hour ride from the station. I took a taxi for 1,200NTD/2,400Php roundtrip (600-800NTD one way). Just tell the driver to take you to Chung Cheng University and they already know. They will drop you off at the entrance of the school.

Chung Cheng University is an open campus. You can go there any time. Grabe yung feels ko when I alight the taxi! Parang yung 9 year old self ko yung naglalakad around the campus. Super feels!

When you walk straight at the entrance, the first filming location that you will see is the Admin building (this is where the rooftop scenes were filmed).

After that, you can go to the Tranquility Lake. Just go back to the main entrance and you’ll see a Family Mart near, go inside and you’ll see the Tranquillity lake. This is where the bridge can be found.

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Published by Annyeong Oppa - Anj Kalma

I started the 'Annyeong Oppa' way back in 2016 and the rest is history. I am a part time Registered Nurse and a Full-Time Fangirl. I love to write, draw, travel, read, and fangirl.
➡️ www.twitter.com/anjkalma
➡️ www.twitter.com/TheAnnyeongOppa
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